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Customer Testimonials

Amanda Burgoyne on Normanton Fivetowns wrote:

"For some reason it's the first show I've been to but certainly won't be the last Never laughed, teared up or had goose-bumps as many times in 2 hours! Absolutely amazing!"

(Thank You Amanda)

NODA REVIEWS

ANYTING GOES.

May 2016

Directors:

David Hartill, Chris Oxely.

Musical Director:

Elaine Oakley.

Choreographers:

Jessica Beever.

Review by NOEL G. RIGG

This was a most enjoyable production full of well known Cole Porter musical numbers and many comedy situations which this, in the main, very experienced cast, exploited to the full under the excellent direction of David Hartill & Chris Oxley. Jessica Beever in her first full production as choreographer achieved super results in the many production numbers especially the 'Blow Gabriel Blow' one. The cast was strong in all roles Graeme Hemingway (Billy Crocker) sang and acted the role with great confidence and stage presence as did Paul Wilkinson (Moonface Martin), good to see Paul in a different role from Dame parts as is his speciality. Chris Littler-Moore (Purser) made this small cameo part one to remember with his very camp presentation. Cevin Barker (Elisha J.Whitney) was every inch the somewhat rather inebriated business tycoon just right I felt. Margaret Melvin (Mrs. Wadsworth T. Harcourt) was just great as the domineering mother and Charlotte Wilson (Hope Harcourt) as the dutiful daughter was confident and gave great support to Billy. Bonnie (Samantha Hayward) I felt that she gave a well thought out performance but regretably on Friday evening a badly tuned microphone just about ruined her performance. Darren Smith (Sir Evelyn Oakleigh) this is a most difficult role to play and be convincing without going 'OTT' but without doubt Darren got it just perfect - The 'Let's Misbehave' number with Reno was possitively fantastic. Any production of Anything Goes needs a fantastic leading lady and this one had Pippa Slater (Reno Sweeney), playing a role she knows and loves, was simply amazing. She commandeered the stage at all times with some fine acting and tremendous vocal contributions, especially in the very demanding 'Blow Gabriel Blow' number. She received great support from her six angels who acted sung and danced with great appeal. The small orchestra and brilliant costumes did much to enhance this most enjoyable production.

DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT

December 2015

Directors:

David Hartill, Chris Oxely.

Musical Director:

Elaine Oakley.

Choreographers:

Bernadette Cowley, Jessica Beever.

Review by NOEL G. RIGG

Panto time is here again and so to 5 Towns we go. We are called again by the Bow Bell of Normanton 5 Towns to see their annual pantomime Dick Whittington and His Cat. A somewhat smaller company than in the past seasons but still very enthusiastic. Samantha Hayward (Dick Whittington) again charmed us with some very strong vocal contributions. Charlotte Wilson (Principal girl) was a very confident Alice Fitzwarren but did perhaps over act on some occasions. Katie Golby (Idle Jackie) gave us a very lively performance but again perhaps a little over enthusiastic. Paul Wilkinson (Sarah the Cook) always gives a first class performance keeping the show bubbling along in the humour department. Francesca Lawn (Tommy the Cat) gave a most heart warming performance and her acrobatic cat dance was outstanding and superbly choreographed. The most eye catching performances were from Chris Littler-Moore (King Rat) and Lisa Hambleton (Fairy Bow Bells) they played against each other brilliantly both giving super performances.

CELEBRATION SHOWCASE

Alice Bacon Centre Normanton,

CABARET

Producer/Director

Samantha Hayward,

Society history Script writer

Carol Saddler,

Musical Director

Elaine Oakley,

Review by Noel . G Rigg.

This showcase production was the product of 90 years working hard to bring live musical theatre to the people of Normanton and the surrounding district. The production was made up of a selection of musical numbers and sketches many of which have been featured by the society over the past years. All the numbers were well sung, produced and choreographed. The full cast for most of the numbers gave a most enthusiastic and enjoyable performance particularly outstanding were 'I'm Getting Married In The Morning' and 'Master Of The House' contributions. The 'All I Ask Of You' sung by Samantha Hayward and Matthew Reather was brilliant. The show was well staged and costumed and the lighting and sound was up to the usual high standard.

JACK AND THE BEANSTAK

5 Towns Musical Theatre Society

5 December 2014

Alice Bacon
Community Centre Normanton

Pantomime

Producer / Director

David Hartill

Musical Director

Elaine Oakley

Choreographer

Bernadette Cowley

Review by Geoffrey
Haywood

~~Oh yes it is! Oh
no it isn’t! Oh yes it was! This was indeed a superb pantomime, full of the
usual comedy and the not so usual, good chorus singing and dancing and an
absolute plethora of principals who worked together as well rehearsed cast.

Jack (Charlotte
Wilson) and Princess Primrose (Sophie Golby) fulfilled their roles beautifully,
giving excellent interpretations of their roles and this, coupled with their
enthusiastic singing, gave a solid foundation to the show.

Piccalilli the Witch
(Joanne Burgess) and Fairy Sugardust (Jessica Young) were exactly as they
should have been, totally at cross purposes with each other and giving the
audience scope for lusty booing and cheering. King Hubert (Malcolm Whatcott)
was quite eccentric and scatterbrained but was kept on course by Queen Hyacinth
(Margaret Melvin) in the role of a lady who always has to answer for her
husband as he never seemed to get anything right (at least some of the time)

Snatchet, Scarper,
and Rancid the two broker’s men and the witches henchman (Katie Golby, Adam
Lovell and Chris Littler-Moore) were good as the clowns of the show, whilst
Graeme Hemingway playing the Giant was a very menacing large ogre which was not
surprising considering all the padding and platform soles he had to wear.
Stewart Wilson and Paul Shearon as Buttermilk the cow got the usual ooohs and
aaahs fron the audiene particularly as the hapless animal was dragged off to
market.

Humphrey (Nick Wray)
was a suitably pompous person who announced the arrivals and departures of the
Royalty

Last, but by no
means the least were Dame Dotty Dimple (Paul Wilkinson) and Simple Simon (Tim
Guest) who kept the audience well and truly entertained with their quick
repartee and general fooling about as befits a typical pantomime dame and the
village idiot.

The costumes were of
a first class order and it was obvious that much thought had gone into this
department showing the differences between the poor village people and the rich
courtiers.

The staging and the
lighting were of a very high order and added to the overall enjoyment of the
evening

THE KING AND I

5
Towns Musical Theatre Society

22 May 2014

Venue

ALICE BACON
COMMUNITY CENTRE NORMANTON

Type of Production

MUSICAL

Producer / Director

MARTIN MILLWARD

Musical Director

ELAINE OAKLEY

Choreographer

CAROLINE TAYLOR

Review

Author: NOEL G. RIGG

5 Towns I feel are a
fast growing society which seem to improve year on year. This years production
was of a very good standard with some very fine principals. Mark Taylor (The
King) was very impressive I have seen him perform this role twice before and I think he just gets better each time.
His partnership with Anna (Samantha Hayward) worked very well she sang very
well and gave a fine studied performance as the slightly stately governess.
Sophie Golby (Tuptim) gave a fine performance as she told the story of The
Small House of Uncle Thomas and she coped quite well with the very difficult
song My Lord and Master. Harrison Hartley was a very fine Louis with excellent
diction and sang very well, as did Nicholas Wray (Prince Chulalongkorn) he got
his acting just right as he gained knowledge from Anna. All the other small
parts were well cast. The sets were again outstanding both in design and
construction and worked very well. The good sound, costumes and orchestra gave
us all a fine night's enjoyment.

SNOW WHITE AND HE
SEVEN DWARFS

5 Towns Musical Theatre Society

5 December 2013

ALICE BACON
COMMUNITY CENTRE NORMANTON

Producer / Director

SAMANTHA HAYWARD

Musical Director

ELAINE OAKLEY

Choreographer

SAMANTHA HAYWARD

Review

Author: NOEL G. RIGG

This was a very
happy and lively production. The casting was very good in all roles. The
leading roles of Snow White (Jessica Beever) and Prince Ferdinand of Farawasia
(Jodie Slater) both sang and moved well on stage. The comedy in the hands of
Chris Littler-Moore (Edna Bucket) and Adam Lovell (Chuckles) was well organised
and played especially well for such young people, they kept the show bubbling
along. The seven dwarfs were outstanding and superbly trained with excellent
diction, you could here every word wherever they were on stage. The excellent
stage sets and a very good sound system gave us all a fine night's
entertainment.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

5
Towns Musical Theatre Society

23 May 2013

NORMANTON ALICE
BACON COMMUNITY CENTRE

MUSICAL

Producer / Director

MARTIN MILLWARD

Musical Director

ELAINE OAKLEY

Choreographer

BERNADETTE COWLEY

Review

Author: NOEL G. RIGG

This was a very well
organised production with good portrayals by all the main principals.Samantha
Hayward was a most suitable choice for the role of Maria singing and acting
with a very nice easy confident style. Valerie Millward was very impressive as the
Mother Abbess with a lovely sympathetic understanding of the part and of course
superb singing and she was well supported by Sister Berthe (Joanne Burgess)
Sister Margaretta (Margaret Phelps) and Sister Sophia (Carole Sadler). David
Rosamund managed the difficult role of Captain Georg von Trapp, turning from
the stern to the very likeable loving husband and father, very well indeed with
perhaps a little problem vocal songwise. David Hartill gave us a super
performance as Max Detweiler a role he knows and plays so well. The children
were outstanding, their singing and dancing was a great tribute to the
rehearsing they must have done. Perhaps a final word of praise for the set
design,construction and decoration it was simply outstanding and very well
organised, it gave great flow to the production.